Historical Landscape and National Identity in Modern China

3 units

This course attempts to ground the history of modern China in physical space such as imperial palaces, monuments and memorials, campus, homes and residential neighborhoods, recreational facilities, streets, prisons, factories, gardens, and churches. Using methods of historical and cultural anthropological analysis, the course invests the places where we see with historical meaning. Through exploring the ritual, political, and historical significance of historical landmarks, the course investigates the forces that have transformed physical spaces into symbols of national, local, and personal identity. The historical events and processes we examine along the way through the sites include the changing notion of rulership, national identity, state-building, colonialism and imperialism, global capitalism and international tourism. Acknowledging and understanding the fact that these meanings and significances are fluid, multiple, contradictory, and changing over time are an important concern of this course. Fulfills modern elective for EALC major.